|
Post by Firehead on Oct 19, 2010 12:01:46 GMT -5
The walk back was quite pleasent, and Mylia found herself regreting that it had to end so soon, when they hove into view of the ship. But she was almost immediately distracted from that thought by the sight which greeted them as they drew nearer.
"I vonder vat iss going on now!" Ari said to Mylia with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"De crew iss all back ant dey look like de are all about to do somting togeder"
"I don't know...although...." she trailed off as they approached the group, wondering to herself if they were going to be moving Ringulf and Tory now.
When they walked up to Smidja and Ogmund, Smidja said,
"Vell I do hope your Lordship and Lady hat a pleasant time at de Ball?" The note of sarchasm heavy in his voice.
"Vell Captain Smidja, de all knowing, all powerful, blessed of Odin, leader off us all!...Ve did! It seemed to me after playing nurse, mucking stalls, slinging hay, fetching mudd, and playing patty-cake vit de local boys, vile de rest of de crew hat shore leave, I taught dat me and my frient deserved a little bit of dinner, tank you very much!! now vat de hell iss happening here?!" Ari said a bit heatedly.
"Woah!" Mylia said to herself. This was probably one arguement she wanted to stay out of the way of, especially since it was two Skandians. "Steady goes it." she said softly. She was grateful that Ogmund spoke up and soothed the flared tempers, without her having to do it. Short as she was, they probably wouldn't have noticed her in the heat of the moment. She perked up considerably when she heard Ogmund add that Ringulf had woken up. "He's awake? Is he alright?" she asked eagerly.
"Ya dats right," said Smidja, "...but he is a little shaken up ant not himself, so don't you two bodder him vit all kinds off qvestions and such, he needs to rest and get his bearings!"
Mylia bit her lip to keep from breaking out in a jig right then and there, and quietly followed Ari to the cabin to fetch their gear. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The trek to the Ranger cabin was uneventful, for the most part, and Mylia lost herself in her own thoughts.....Except most of her thoughts, when they didn't involve Tory and Ringulf, centered around Ari, which she found exasperating. Get a grip, girl! Sheesh! She turned her attention to the Skandian woman accompanying them to the cabin, and wondered what her role in all this would be.
They arrived at the cabin before Mylia could work up the courage to approach her and ask, and Mylia turned her attention to the conversation that had started between her group and the Ranger Bunt.
“We need two more beds fer the girls and I jes don’ have ‘em.”
"I can sleep on the floor. It's not bad, I've done it before." Mylia pipped up, at the same time as Ari suggested hammocks. Well, that beats sleeping on the floor. she thought.
She followed the Skandian litterbearers into the house, following Torys up to the loft, where she deposited her and Torys' gear, then went downstairs to Ringulf's room and dumped his gear down in an out-of-the-way corner. Before she could get a good look at Ringulf however, to see how he was doing, she was shooed out of the room by one of the Skandians who'd carried Ringulf. "No bothering 'im."
Mylia scowled, but went.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Oct 19, 2010 12:52:55 GMT -5
Fin saw the other ranger girl come out of the room they had put Ringulf in with a scowl on her face. She approached Mylia with a look of concern on her face. She figured that she had better let the girl know that Ringulf had some problems with the head injury for it would be better for her to be prepared than to find out through speaking to the ranger.
“Hello, Miss Ranger.” Fin held out her hand with a friendly smile on her face. “I here dey call ya Mylia, is dat right? I am called Fin an’ I am a blacksmith, among othder tings.” She gestured toward the porch. “Vwy don’ vwe go outside ta vwhere vwe can talk aboot Ringulf for a moment.”
Fin led the way to a quiet corner of the porch and sat down on the edge, hanging her feet over the side into the well-tended flower bed. “As ya know, he hit his headt rathder hardt an’ der is some svwelling of da brain.” She studied Mylia closely, making sure that she understood and wasn’t getting too upset.
“Vwell, it seems dat has affected his memory a bit. At da moment he doesn’t know who vwe all are or remember his own name.” She paused and then rested her hand gently on Mylia’s shoulder. “But in all likelyhoodt dat will all go avway vwhen de svwelling goes down inside his headt. He should regain his memory in a few days.” She tried to sound reassuring and hopeful.
“Of course dere is no guarantee dat he vwill remember, but I tink he vwill.” She patted Mylia. “I haf seen dis injury a few times before an’ normally dey remember who dey are after three or four days and den dey haf no memory of de event dat injured dem.”
Her voice grew grave, “however, dere are a few cases vwhere dey don’ ever remember deir past and haf ta jes start over wifth a new life. It is too early ta tell at dis point.” She didn’t want to alarm Mylia, but she wanted to be sure the girl had all the facts. “Normally dey vwill remember bits n pieces at first an’ den dey vwill suddenly have everting come rushing back at vwonce.”
Fin let Mylia mull that over for a few moments and then suggested, “Vwhat ye can do ta help is ta be dere vwhen he is avwake an I am not dere. Don’ bothder him vwif questions dat vwill upset him, but try to casually show him items or smells dat might jog his memory. Smells are alvways goodt memory triggers. Perhaps dere is a foodt he is fondt of dat has happy memories and is very aromatic dat ya might know aboot?”
Fin felt it important to give Mylia a task to help her mentor recover quicker, not only for Ringulf’s sake, but also to help Mylia who was likely feeling very out-of-sorts with her mentor so severely injured.
“As ta his vwalking again, it is still too early ta tell, but he has a surpisingly strong grip an’ I am hoping dat he vwill fully recover given enough time and a goodt deal of tender care – vwhich ye and I shall provide him, right?”
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Oct 19, 2010 13:36:40 GMT -5
Almost immediately, Mylia found herself being approached by the Skandian woman. “Hello, Miss Ranger.” Fin held out her hand with a friendly smile on her face. “I here dey call ya Mylia, is dat right? I am called Fin an’ I am a blacksmith, among othder tings.” She gestured toward the porch. “Vwy don’ vwe go outside ta vwhere vwe can talk aboot Ringulf for a moment.”
Mylia returned the handshake, if not the smile, and followed Fin out onto the veranda.
“As ya know, he hit his headt rathder hardt an’ der is some svwelling of da brain.”
"Uh-hunh." Mylia nodded her head, then stopped and tilted her head sideways to squint at Fin. "Your brain can really swell? I thought that was just an expression."
“Vwell, it seems dat has affected his memory a bit. At da moment he doesn’t know who vwe all are or remember his own name.” She paused and then rested her hand gently on Mylia’s shoulder.
"What?" Mylia bristled a little at that.
“But in all likelyhoodt dat will all go avway vwhen de svwelling goes down inside his headt. He should regain his memory in a few days.” She tried to sound reassuring and hopeful.
Mylia listened to this feeling just a bit apprehensive. "He had better regain it. Otherwise..." she left the rest unsaid.
“Of course dere is no guarantee dat he vwill remember, but I tink he vwill.” She patted Mylia. “I haf seen dis injury a few times before an’ normally dey remember who dey are after three or four days and den dey haf no memory of de event dat injured dem.”
“However, dere are a few cases vwhere dey don’ ever remember deir past and haf ta jes start over wifth a new life. It is too early ta tell at dis point.” She didn’t want to alarm Mylia, but she wanted to be sure the girl had all the facts. “Normally dey vwill remember bits n pieces at first an’ den dey vwill suddenly have everting come rushing back at vwonce.”
So much for reasuring. "Thanks a lot for that note of comfort." Mylia said wryly. "Just what I needed to hear."
"Vwhat ye can do ta help is ta be dere vwhen he is avwake an I am not dere. Don’ bothder him vwif questions dat vwill upset him, but try to casually show him items or smells dat might jog his memory. Smells are alvways goodt memory triggers. Perhaps dere is a foodt he is fondt of dat has happy memories and is very aromatic dat ya might know aboot?”
"Ok...Ok....how about just going in there and telling him that if he don't remember by the time he's better, that I'll knock him on the jaw? I've heard that works." Mylia spoke partily serious, partily joking, and with a note of hope in her voice.
“As ta his vwalking again, it is still too early ta tell, but he has a surpisingly strong grip an’ I am hoping dat he vwill fully recover given enough time and a goodt deal of tender care – vwhich ye and I shall provide him, right?"
"Right." Mylia heaved a sigh. and slouched a little. She was feeling just the slightest bit bummed out.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Oct 19, 2010 20:57:30 GMT -5
"Ok...Ok....how about just going in there and telling him that if he don't remember by the time he's better, that I'll knock him on the jaw? I've heard that works." Mylia spoke partily serious, partily joking, and with a note of hope in her voice.
Fin smiled at her half jest, but answered her thoughtfully, tapping her chin with her fingertips. "I haf heardt dat anodther knock on de headt can sometimes help de injured ta remember." She validated Mylia's suggestion. "However I do believe dat it is best ta try dat after one is healed from de original blow ta de headt, an' dat can take weeks." Then she smiled at Mylia, "Ah but if ye try dat particular technique, ye must hit him in de same place - on de back of de headt, else all ye will do is make him angry." She laughed, "not dat I am encouraging ye ta try dat."
Fin sighed, "Ahhh, I vwish I could give ye some better news, but all vwe can do is vwait and see how he does, and pray ta de Gods ta restore him fully," she said wearily.
It had been a rather long day and a lot had happened since she'd sat down in her shop that morning. At that thought, she again remembered what had brought her to the Skandian ship in the first place. "Aw drat, I forgot ta ask dat boy about de stones I need." She stood up and looked around but didn't see Aribjorn anywhere. "Vwhere did Aribjorn go?" She saw Smidja and decided to ask him. Turning back to Mylia she said, "I haf ta go back ta my shop in de square, but I vwill be back here tomorrow before I open it up to check on both our patients. Keep Tory calm an' as still as possible and if Ringulf vwakes vwhile ya are dere, den just keep him company. He needs rest rightnow, but he may become agitated if he cannot remember who he is. He vwill need his friendts near him during de next few days."
Fin then approached Smidja and asked him, "Now dat dey are settled down and tings seem under control, I vwas vwondering if I could talk shop witdt ya, vwhich is da reason I came down ta de docks to see ya in de first place."
Fin hoped the Skandian captain had what she needed. "I am in de market ta purchase some fine amber stones and some forest green stones if ya have anyting like dat. A friendt told me ya might have some." Fin had another thought, "I might be interested in some otdher gems as vwell, if ya have any."
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Oct 20, 2010 21:07:00 GMT -5
Fin then approached Smidja and asked him, "Now dat dey are settled down and tings seem under control, I vwas vwondering if I could talk shop witdt ya, vwhich is da reason I came down ta de docks to see ya in de first place."
"Ya OK Fin vat can I help you wit, it seems you haff done much to help us! I am sorry you got stuck in da middle of all dis ranger stuff! I am sure you got a living to make too!" The elder Skandian said with warmth in his voice for his countrywoman.
Fin hoped the Skandian captain had what she needed. "I am in de market ta purchase some fine amber stones and some forest green stones if ya have anyting like dat. A friendt told me ya might have some." Fin had another thought, "I might be interested in some otdher gems as vwell, if ya have any."
"Vell girl you iss in luck I tink! I have some beautiful amber on my ship in fact, I vas wonderin if I vas gonna be able to sell all of it perhaps I can vork out an agreement wit you to take half ant sell it for me as my agent vile I take de rest ant sell it it too, dat vay ve don't flood de market. Of course you can use vatever you vant ant I vill give it to you at my cost for your help, as vell as pay you a commision for de sales. If it vorks out maybe ve keep it up I get lots of goods from de homelant and you seem like just de vomen dese vesterners vould want to buy from!" He said with a calculating grin.
"Now, I don't haf green stones but I do have many very pretty glass beads dey are as green as emeralds and have very nice vorkmanship! anudder ting you might like, I haff a good number of Narval horns ant valrus ivory in many sizes dat you could use to make many tings if you are handy vit de carving."
"I don't know if you deal vit dis but if you are interested, I also have many furs ant skins, fox, hvitbear, otter, I haff some arctic volf, some beaver and skins from musk ox, reindeer, seal and valrus, it vas a goot season for fur ant hides I vould say!" The old captain loved trade he was a great merchant and had always been able to help his owners and jarls turn a profit weather by raid or trade.
As they spoke Aribjorn came trotting up with a bunch of canvas hammocks in his arms.
"I got de..whew hang on a bit!" he caught his breath and started again "I got de hammocks ver is Ranger Bunt?"
He iss up at de cabin settling in de rangers I tink Ogmunt is vit dem too." said Smidja.
"Ah goot, I vill bring dem dese, oh!...Fin!....I am so very sorry! You have been vit us all day! can I get anyting for you? I am sure you are hungry, tirsty? ya? Oh I coult kick myself! I have been so busy I have not even tanked you for all your help!" He dropped the whole pile of hammocks and came over to her and gave her a big bear hug.
When he let her go he kept his head close to hers to speak softly.
"You saved de day for me I gotta tell you, I don't know vat I voulda done vitout you der, I have some fresh bread from de tavern vit butter ant cheese ant I still have a small bottle of de malt beer dey gave me I vill bring dem to you in a minute ok? Sorry!.....and without even stopping to hear her reply he was zipping off to the cabin with the hammocks.
When he got inside he went up the stairs were Tory was lying on the ships cot and saw Mylia and the new Ranger girl. He did not know her name but assumed it was Bunt's new apprentice.
"Hi!" he said to Mylia in a loud whisper, "I got you dese, dey vil be more comfortable den de floor I tink vee got lots so dont vorry about dem," then he turned to Ivy, "Hi, my name is Aribjorn you must be Bunt's new ranger girl vat iss your name?" He held out his hand to Ivy and gave her a big smile.
"Iss Tory avake I vanted to let her know I vould be up to see all off you in de mornin. I vill haff to do somting vit de horses I tink maybe you two can giff me a hant ven Tory iss resting? How iss she doing did dey move her gently?"
"OK vell I got to get some dinner for poor Fin de voman has been helping all day ant ve haff not even given her vater! I feel like a troll!" And he was off again down the stairs and over to Ringulf's room where Ogmund was setting things up and the Skandian crewmen had just left. Bunt stood outside the door.
"Ranger Bunt sir I haff put de hammoks up in de loft for de girls to use dere a many off dem, ve had alot to spare so don't vorry about returning dem keep dem for ven you have company. ant tank you for taking care off de Rangers I vill be glad ven dey are vell again" Ari said to Bunt thankfully.
"Umm,...maybe you might know Sir, vere I can board de ponies till ve take dem to de Castle in Araluen is der a farm or som lant ve can use to keep dem in?"
He talked with the older ranger for a bit then he remembered Fin
"Oh golly I got to get Fin her supper! excuse me Sir and tank you!" He bolted to where he had his bag of food. He had brought it up with them right from dinner but had grabbed the cheese and beer from the ship before the first trip.
He put it all together and brought it to the hansome Skandian woman. He sat on the edge of the porch with her and served her, nibbling and sharing a bit to be hospitable as he tried to chat and learn more about this living picture of his homeland.
"Fin I am sorry, vat do you do? vy are you here in Caravay so far from home and vy do you not haff a man at your sidte? ...uh not dat you neet vone...but you are a very...uh...beautiful voman..I uh...vell I am sorry, maybe I should not talk so much."
|
|
Solo
Apprentice Cook
No! Seriously?
Posts: 82
|
Post by Solo on Oct 21, 2010 8:49:33 GMT -5
“Glad yer here,"
Well. That was different. She'd been expecting a lecture or some sort of scolding for not being outside practicing her archery.
“I know I promised ya yer own room, but…”
Ivy raised her brow. He's changing his mind? Why now?
“well… seems the rangers tha’ were comin’ ta pick up them Skandian horses ran into a bit-o-trouble on the river and was injured by pirates.”
Ivy's mouth formed a silent "O". then she pursed her lips and waited for the explanation about why this had anything to do with her losing her bedroom.
“Well they are hurt pretty bad and are gonna have ta stay here for a few weeks ‘til they can git healed up.” ........“Umm, ‘fraid I am gonna have ta put Ringulf in yer room along with the Skandian who has volunteered ta nurse him. The mast fell on him and he is darn lucky ta be alive. He has a nasty bump on his head and they don’ know if he will be able ta walk again from where it fell on his back.” ..........“Ringulf an’ I go way back an’ I wanna make sure he has the best care. It’ll kill him if he can never walk again.” ........... “But he might recover fully. Too early to tell yet,” .....“We gotta wait fer the swellin’ ta go down.”
"Ah. I see." Ivy was reluctant to admit it, but she supposed that it made sense to keep him in an easily accessable bed. "I guess I can give up my room for a few weeks for a cause like that." She stressed the few weeks part to let him know she expected to have it back at the end of that time, give a few days at most.
“The other injured one is a ranger apprentice that was travellin’ with him. She apparently defended the helmsman right up until they ran the ship aground and were thrown out. Least ways that’s what I heard tell from some of the crew. They saw her fightin’ three river rats and one of ‘em gave her a nasty gash all down her side. It is not deep I hear, but she can’t move ‘round much. So I am going to put her up in the loft with you and the other ranger girl who didn’t get hurt. You three girls are about the same age and so ya should git along jes fine.”
Oh, yay. Not only was she expected to give up her room downstairs, but she was also expected to share the loft with not one but two other girls. She made a face as she turned away to her room. Apparently it was time to pack her things, few as they were, up to the loft.
“it will only be for a few weeks an’ then ya will have yer room back ta yerself.”
Was he trying to cheer her up by remeinding her of that? If so, he wasn't going to get the desired effect. She scowled deeper.
“They are prob’ly on their way here by now. Best tidy up yer room and gather yer things. We can move yer dresser up ta the loft or you girls can use my room as a dressin’ room if ya like. Jes let me get out of it before ya go in there ta change.”
No, she thought she'd make a mess for their guest to clean up. Of course she'd have her room tidy! it hadn't even had time to become messy. She tried her best to hide the glare that she was spearing the floor with as she staulked back into her room.
Dropping to her knees, she lay her head sideways on the floor and peered under the bed. Do-over had moved--or at least, he wasn't under the bed anymore. Moving around the bed, she found him crouched by the wall, beginning his dead squirel feast. Ivy quickly scooped him up, squirel and all, and carried him to the open window. "I don't care if you want to get furballs, but you are eating that thing outside!" Ivy told him as she dumped him out the window and turned back to the rest of her room.
“I can give ya a hand ifn ya need one."
"No, thanks, I got it." she replied. Seriously, she didn't need any help-- it wasn't like she was moving up there permanently, after all. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivy had cleaned her room, moved what belongings she needed up to the loft, and was outside practicing her archery when the injured parties arrived. Sighing, she finished yanking her arrows from the target--what arrows had hit the target--and bent to scratch Do-over behind the ears. "Well," she said to him, "they're here. Let the fun and chaos begin."
She rose and strolled across the small field, picking up arrows when she came across them, stopping, oncin a while, to count her quiver and see how many she still needed to find. For once, she was pick up fewer arrows from the ground and more from the target she was aiming at--a testimony of her improving archery skills.
After she had collected the last arrow,, Ivy turned to the house and headed toward what was undoubtedly a hullaballoo. She managed to slip into the house and up to the loft unseen (or ignored) for the most part, Do-over following on her heels (he'd given up on the squirel). One of the girls was already there, the injured one probably, since she was lying in the bed, and being very still.
Ivy had dumped her things on the right-hand side of the bed, and from the looks of things, the other girl had been and gone already. Ivy set about making herself comfortable for the next few weeks on the floor. Do-over was sitting in the corner, glaring in the other girls' direction, rowling deep in his throat. Ivy gave him a glance, then looked at the girl again, and spotted the kitten curled up beside the girl. Maybe they could get along. Maybe. Looking back at Do-over she said, "It's called 'tolerate'."
|
|
|
Post by Firehead on Oct 22, 2010 8:42:56 GMT -5
"I haf heardt dat anodther knock on de headt can sometimes help de injured ta remember." She validated Mylia's suggestion. "However I do believe dat it is best ta try dat after one is healed from de original blow ta de headt, an' dat can take weeks." Then she smiled at Mylia, "Ah but if ye try dat particular technique, ye must hit him in de same place - on de back of de headt, else all ye will do is make him angry." She laughed, "not dat I am encouraging ye ta try dat."
Mylia listened to Fin validating her suggestion with curiousity. Of course, it didn't surprise her any to hear that Fin wasn't encouraging her to try it. But then, she reflected, it wouldn't matter if Fin encouraged her or not--if she got desparate enough, she'd do it anyway.
"I haf ta go back ta my shop in de square, but I vwill be back here tomorrow before I open it up to check on both our patients. Keep Tory calm an' as still as possible and if Ringulf vwakes vwhile ya are dere, den just keep him company. He needs rest right now, but he may become agitated if he cannot remember who he is. He vwill need his friendts near him during de next few days."
Mylia nodded her head, and waved as Fin turned away. "Got it." she said. "I'll do my best."
She sat on the edge of the porch a while longer before rising and going inside. The cabin was clearing out a little as the Skandians were mostly making their exit, and Mylia thanked them for their help. She scooped up Loki and trudged up the steps to the loft, feeling the slightest bit down in spirit. She managed to shove that feeling aside however before she had made it to the top, not wanting Tory to catch the blues from her. Upon arrival to the top, she found that she and Tory were not alone. The belongings she'd seen in the opposite corner must belong to the girl who occupied that space now. "Hello!" Mylia spoke cheerfully, giving a quick glance at Tory, making sure she wasn't being disturbed by the talking. "I'm Mylia, Ringulf's apprentice. This is Tory. What's yours?"
As she spoke Mylia sat down near Tory's bed where she could keep an eye on her friend. She set Loki down on her lap, stroking his fur. She opened her mouth to ask another question, but Ari came dashing into the loft, bearing the hammocks.
"Hi!" he said to Mylia in a loud whisper, "I got you dese, dey vil be more comfortable den de floor I tink vee got lots so dont vorry about dem,"
Mylia gave a quick nod, and scooting Loki off her lap and onto the floor, she took the hammocks he held out to her, even as he introdused himself to the new girl. "Thanks a lot for these, Ari." she said.
"Iss Tory avake I vanted to let her know I vould be up to see all off you in de mornin. I vill haff to do somting vit de horses I tink maybe you two can giff me a hant ven Tory iss resting? How iss she doing did dey move her gently?"
"Woah, slow down there! And I thought I was bad! No, I don't believe Tory's awake at the moment; I'll let her know you said that; I'd be glad to help you out with the horses whenever you need it; I think she's doing fine--she's just resting at the moment; and yes, they moved her gently."
"OK vell I got to get some dinner for poor Fin de voman has been helping all day ant ve haff not even given her vater! I feel like a troll!"
And just like that, Ari vanished again. Mylia shook her head slowly. "Oy. he's running around like a chicken with it's head cut off--he needs to slow down a bit." She turned to face Ivy again and held out one of the hammocks. "Makeshift beds, cortesy of the Skandians--to whom we owe our lives." she said, meaning herself, Tory, and Ringulf. "Just string it up to the ceiling, and tie it firm. They're actually pretty comfortable, once you get used to them."
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Oct 22, 2010 14:12:30 GMT -5
"Vell girl you iss in luck I tink! I have some beautiful amber on my ship in fact, I vas wonderin if I vas gonna be able to sell all of it perhaps I can vork out an agreement wit you to take half ant sell it for me as my agent vile I take de rest ant sell it too, dat vay ve don't flood de market.
Of course you can use vatever you vant ant I vill give it to you at my cost for your help, as vell as pay you a commission for de sales.” Smidja answered Fin’s question.
Fin was glad she had gone to speak with Smidja. This was exactly what she needed. “I vwould luff ta look at dem.” She nodded. “I tink vwe can vork out an agreement.”
“If it vorks out maybe ve keep it up I get lots of goods from de homelant and you seem like just de vomen dese vesterners vould want to buy from!" He said with a calculating grin.” Smidja continued.
Fin’s eyes lit up at the prospect. This was exactly what she needed to expand from blacksmithing to a real merchant instead of just dabbling in her arts on the side. She grew more excited as he continued.
"Now, I don't haf green stones but I do have many very pretty glass beads dey are as green as emeralds and have very nice vorkmanship! anudder ting you might like, I haff a good number of Narval horns ant valrus ivory in many sizes dat you could use to make many tings if you are handy vit de carving."
"I don't know if you deal vit dis but if you are interested, I also have many furs ant skins, fox, hvitbear, otter, I haff some arctic volf, some beaver and skins from musk ox, reindeer, seal and valrus, it vas a goot season for fur ant hides I vould say!" The old captain loved trade he was a great merchant and had always been able to help his owners and jarls turn a profit weather by raid or trade.”
“Ah vwill take a look at de glass beadts too. Ah have dabbled in makin’ de glass beadts but Ah am not goot enough yet ta sell dem.” She smiled sheepishly. “Horns, ivory and furs… hmmm…. Ah vwonder if dat stuff wvouldt sell up in Picta?” She mused, figuring she might just be able to create a market on her regular circuit for such items. The furs would sell in Araluen and here in Caraway, but they had their own furs in Norgate and up in the Scotti holdings she visited, so she doubted they would do as well, unless they were unusual looking furs. The Ivory though, there was a lot she could do with that and it was wonderful stuff to carve, much easier than chipping away at stone or casting bronze.
“Ah tink Ah shall haft ta come take a look at yer stuff after breakfast tomorrow.” Fin said. “Ah believf a partnership vwould be beneficial ta us botht!” She grinned and shook his hand. “Perhaps Ah can send ye back wit some of mah finished items an’ perhaps a letter ta mah family? Dey are in Bruinheim ta da southeast of Hallasholm.” Fin asked hopefully. She really wanted her parents to know she was ok, but mail to Skandia was tenuous at best. “Maybe even a small package for dem?” She could send the family some gifts which were also samples of her work. She’d made a few items that she had been holding onto for an opportunity to send back home.
“It is so goot ta see people from home after all dese years.” Fin said warmly to the Skandian captain. “Dey are great here in Araluen, but dey sometimes jes don’ get my sense of humor.” She laughed recalling a bar fight she had once gotten into over a joke she had told. The listener had not found it funny and taken offense and Fin still wasn’t sure exactly why. She would likely be asked to leave, however, the next time she tried to enter The Rusty Anchor in Araluen City.
As they spoke Aribjorn came trotting up with a bunch of canvas hammocks in his arms.
"I got de..whew hang on a bit!" he caught his breath and started again "I got de hammocks ver is Ranger Bunt?"
He iss up at de cabin settling in de rangers I tink Ogmunt is vit dem too." said Smidja.
"Ah goot, I vill bring dem dese, oh!...Fin!....I am so very sorry! You have been vit us all day! can I get anyting for you? I am sure you are hungry, tirsty? ya? Oh I coult kick myself! I have been so busy I have not even tanked you for all your help!" He dropped the whole pile of hammocks and came over to her and gave her a big bear hug.
Before Fin could answer, the handsome young Skandian buck had scooped her up and hugged her until she thought her eyes were bugging out, set her down and thanked her for helping him. She was quite startled and almost grabbed him around the throat in her normal reaction to being man-handled, but he was so innocent and genuinely just wanted to thank her and so enthusiastic that she just grinned at him and patted him on the shoulder. “Tha’ is okay, Aribjorn. Ah haven’t even tought aboot foodt all evening, but now dat ya mention it, Ah tink Ah could eat a mountain goat as long as dere was some goot ale ta vwash it down wit.” She grinned at him. Once again she noticed how young, handsome and lithe he was. She smiled to herself that he was likely going to be driving those two ranger girls – correction, three ranger girls – absolutely insane over the next few days. I hope he knows how to handle 3 ladies at once, she smiled to herself.
Before he ran off, Fin managed to compliment him, “Dat vwas goot doctoring ya gave ta da ranger girl, Ari, ant Ogmundt too. Fine stitchin’ job, so da doctor said. Ya did just fine wit her.” She smiled warmly at the lad. But before she could comment further he had scooped up the hammocks and dashed into the cabin, not far behind Mylia.
Fin chatted with Smidja for a bit about their homeland and the current politics and Fin filled him in on the state of things in Araluen and Picta from what little she knew of things. She liked the Skandian captain and figured that they were going to have a great partnership once they ironed out the small details such as coordinating where and when to meet next time.
After a few minutes, though she thought she should check on the two rangers before she headed back to her wagon for the night. She made her way back inside and into Ringulf’s room, Smidja following her, but hanging back in the doorway as Fin went to Ringulf’s bed and knelt on the floor beside it. Ogmund was already there, making ready to watch over the ranger for the night, along with Bunt.
Fin lay her hand on Ringulf’s forehead again, checking for fever. Finding none, she slid her hand gently down his cheek. She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Sweet dreams, Ringulf!” She whispered in his ear and then smoothed his hair back from his face and pulled the covers up around his shoulders, tucking him in. “Ah vwill be back in da morning for a bit before Ah open meh shop.” Fin said to Bunt softly, trying not to wake Ringulf.
Fin walked out of the room right behind Ranger Bunt, leaving Ogmund to look after Ringulf. Aribjorn came rattling down the stairs and stopped in front of Bunt.
"Ranger Bunt sir I haff put de hammoks up in de loft for de girls to use dere a many off dem, ve had a lot to spare so don't vorry about returning dem keep dem for ven you have company. ant tank you for taking care off de Rangers I vill be glad ven dey are vell again" Ari said to Bunt thankfully.
“I sure do thank you for that, Boy. I am sure the girl will be thankful too.” Bunt grinned at him. “I think they will be hard-pressed not to heal quickly with all the great care you Skandians are givin’ ‘em.” Bunt nodded to him and Fin in thanks.
"Umm,...maybe you might know Sir, vere I can board de ponies till ve take dem to de Castle in Araluen is der a farm or some lant ve can use to keep dem in?"
Bunt pointed to the back of the cabin, ‘Why don’ ya bring ‘em here? I got a whole pasture of some of tha’ finest grass in the forest out back. Plenty of room and we can see how they get along with Low Belly. She has been rather lonely I think.” Bunt grinned. “She might be a bit jealous to share her grass though, the greedy little Lady.” He loved his ranger horse, but he was more aware than anyone of her tendency to overeat. Sharing the pasture would be good for her, especially since the early fall grass was going to be coming in soon once the rainy season picked up.
Right now the grass was dry and a lot of it was turning brown from the late summer heat. The weather was doing that fickle flip-flopping between hot and cold and this week it was on the cool side. Bunt was used to much warmer weather all year, having spent most of his life in the deep south of Araluen, but it didn’t seem to bother his horse one bit, just as long as there was plenty to eat.
“Ya can keep ‘em there as long as ya need ta.” Bunt told him.
Aribjorn talked with the older ranger for a bit then he remembered Fin who had gone back out to the porch and was preparing to leave.
"Oh golly I got to get Fin her supper! excuse me Sir and tank you!" He bolted to where he had his bag of food. He had brought it up with them right from dinner but had grabbed the cheese and beer from the ship before the first trip.
He put it all together and brought it to the handsome Skandian woman.
Fin smiled as he brought the food up and sat back down on the edge of the porch. She didn’t have to be back to her wagon at any particular time, though she didn’t want to stay up too late. She suspected tomorrow was going to be a rather hectic day for her.
He sat on the edge of the porch with her and served her, nibbling and sharing a bit to be hospitable as he tried to chat and learn more about this living picture of his homeland.
"Fin I am sorry, vat do you do? vy are you here in Caravay so far from home and vy do you not haff a man at your sidte? ...uh not dat you neet vone...but you are a very...uh...beautiful voman..I uh...vell I am sorry, maybe I should not talk so much."
Fin smiled at him, “Dat is okay, Ari, you are very young yet. Tanks for da compliment, even doh Ah do nah see it.” She had never considered herself beautiful and over here, most of the men found her Skandian build a bit unsavory. She was beginning to suspect he might just be starting to get a crush on her. She had handled many a grown man, but only once before had a young man, barely more than a boy, showed interest in her. Fin knew she had to handle him rather delicately so she would not hurt his feelings. Normally the best approach was to keep everything on friendly terms – stressing that she wasn't looking for any lasting relationship. He was a fine looking fellow, but a few too many years younger than she to make her feel comfortable with him.
“Ah am a blacksmidt, among othdur tings.” She grinned. “Ah make jewelry and othdur items wit metal, stone and woodt. Dere are a lot oft tings Ah vwoodt like ta make an’ haf ideas for, but getting da raw materials ta work wit can be rathdur hard here. Ah am very excited by de prospect of doing some trade wit Captain Smidja.”
She wasn’t quite sure how to answer is other question about not having a man and blushed a bit as she tried to explain. “Ah guess Ah never got married because Ah never met da right man dat vwould allow meh ta continue wit meh smitdy and merchant crafting.” She finally said, looking at the dwindling food on her plate. “Ah haf alvways valued meh freedom ant do nah need a man ta tell me vwhat ta do. Ah figure dat someday one vwill come along dat vwill not try ta change meh and dat I might jus zettle down an’ raise a family.” She looked up at him, a bit embarrassed herself.
“Actually Ah am afraid Ah am a bit of a vwonton vwoman ant da nah feel terribly guilty aboot keeping da company of many men.” She hoped she had put that delicately enough that it would not make her sound like she was a lusty wench, but also got the point across that she chose her liaisons on her terms, when she wanted them and wasn’t too worried about what others thought of her wild ways. “Ah haft livedt in a man’s vworld meh entire life ant Ah guess Ah just learned ta tink like dem and act a lot like dem. Ah choose vwhen Ah vwant ta be wit someone ant dos dat try ta haft dere vway wit meh, usually endt up wit a goot headtache.” She grinned at him as she popped the last morsel into her mouth.
“Dat vwas very goot. Tanks for it. Ah do love da cheese here in Caravway. Dey make some oft da best cheese in da vworldt as far as Ah am concerned.” She thought for a moment, “Altdoh, dere is dat soft cheese in Teutlandt dat dey melt over da crusty bread ant put svweet raspberry jelly on top. Mmmm, dat stuff is very goot. Ah tink dey call it Brie or someting like dat.”
“So, Ah hear dat ya are going ta be a knight?” she asked him, looking at him curiously. “Vwhat made ya vwant ta take dat path?”
After he told her she remembered something she had wanted to ask him earlier, “Ah saw dem ponies ya are bringing ta da rangers ant dey look like fine lil’ beasties.” She grinned. “Ah have four Shire Drafts dat are of da best quality. Vwon is a stallion and he hadt a goot time wit vwon of meh mares. Ah figure she vwill foal in da spring. Ah am going ta haf ta find anuthder goot draft ta take her place for awhile.” Fin was actually rather worried about the condition of her mare and the impact it would have on her trade. “Ah vwish Ah couldt get anuthder Shire, but dey are from our homelandt ant off course dere aren’t any over here.” She said sadly. “An it is a shame too for Ah havft da coin ta buy anuthder vwon right now, maybe even for two.” She would like to get a couple of spares and have enough mares unrelated to the stallion so she could breed them and possibly sell the foals. Her horses definitely attracted a lot of attention wherever she went, being very large, black and white and with very long flowing mane and tails and big bushy feet. They were intelligent and spirited, yet willing and highly trained for pulling. They rarely spooked at anything and were also very resilient when it came to illnesses and injuries. She had seen some of the knights admiring them a couple of times and thought perhaps she could sell them for war horses, though they were not as fiery tempered as some of the war horses Araluen knights rode.
“Ah guess Ah am going ta havft ta settle for vwon of dose Araluen brown draft horses for avwhile.” She said a bit gloomily.
After a little while she looked up at the moon rising in the sky over the trees and realized it was getting rather late. “Ah should go back ta meh vwagon in da market sqvuare.” She told Aribjorn, standing up and dusting off her backside. “Ah vwill be back here in da morning, but Ah am going ta stop by da Knarr Harr Marr early on ant take a look at da merchandise Smidja is looking ta sell.” She smiled at Aribjorn and held out her hand.
“Goot job wit dose rangers ant I vwill see ya tomorrow, no?” She asked him. Then she made her way back down the trail and toward her gypsy wagon, yawning mightily as she strode out of Aribjorn’s sight.
|
|
Solo
Apprentice Cook
No! Seriously?
Posts: 82
|
Post by Solo on Oct 26, 2010 12:46:50 GMT -5
Ivy had just finished speading her blankets, and settling into her space, when the other girl came up. Oh joy, this one had a cat too. Do-over was going to be thrilled.
"Hello!" .... "I'm Mylia, Ringulf's apprentice. This is Tory. What's yours?"
Great. She could just see that this was going to be fun--where one was practically in a coma, the other one was Miss Cheerful. Tolerate. Remember, tolerate. "Hi. Nice. Mine is Ivy Bramble." She gave a fake enthusiastic smile, but it felt like a grimace on her face.
Before anything more could be said on either side, one of the other newcomers came barreling in, talking a mile a minute. Plus he had an odd accent--even odder than Bunt's. Before she'd figured out what he'd said to Mylia when he'd handed her a large cloth bundle, he was turning to her.
"Hi, my name is Aribjorn you must be Bunt's new ranger girl vat iss your name?"
Ivy wrinkled her brow as she worked out what he'd said, then she realized and fought the urge to roll her eyes as she shook his hand and replied. After I just told Mylia my name, no less. "Ivy. Nice to meet you, too." She resisted copying his accent, to show him how rediculous he sounded--after all, she was already working on a heavy dose of sarcasm. The Skandian turned away and rattled off several questions at Mylia, who rattled back the answers almost as quickly. Just as quickly as he had entered, he left.
"Oy. he's running around like a chicken with it's head cut off--he needs to slow down a bit."
"You got that right." Ivy muttered. From his courner, Do-over rumbled what sounded like agreement. Mylia held out part of the bunlde Aribjorn had given her.
"Makeshift beds, cortesy of the Skandians--to whom we owe our lives." ........... "Just string it up to the ceiling, and tie it firm. They're actually pretty comfortable, once you get used to them."
Ivy told herself to go easy on the sarcasm as she copied Mylia's moves for hanging the bed up. After that, she took her blanket and dumped it inside the finished result. She wadded the other up and tossed it into Do-over's corner. "Don't get fleas in it." She told him. Do-over gave her a glare that said, Me? Fleas? Never in a haudred years!
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Nov 4, 2010 23:29:54 GMT -5
"Fin I am sorry, vat do you do? vy are you here in Caravay so far from home and vy do you not haff a man at your sidte? ...uh not dat you neet vone...but you are a very...uh...beautiful voman..I uh...vell I am sorry, maybe I should not talk so much."
Fin smiled at him, “Dat is okay, Ari, you are very young yet. Tanks for da compliment, even doh Ah do nah see it.”
"But Finn," Ari said with surprise and wonder, "You are so strong and confident ant you seem to know so much ant yet you are not fearful off de vorld, ant even if you dont see it or get tolt by de men of dis country, you are a fine voman ant any man woult be proud to have you by his side vife or no! Dats vat I tink ant I won't say I am sorry for it because it is de trute!" he said with conviction but then put his head down blushing mildly, "You are right doe, ant I am young, young enough not to be vise or understant about such tings but olt enough to feel de feelings. I get confused sometimes about women. I enjoy dem, but I don't understant vat makes dem tink!" He shook his head and chuckled to himself somewhat frustrated.
"I am sorry to haff interupted you, please you ver going to tell me vat you do?"
“Ah am a blacksmidt, among othdur tings.” She grinned. “Ah make jewelry and othdur items wit metal, stone and woodt. Dere are a lot oft tings Ah vwoodt like ta make an’ haf ideas for, but getting da raw materials ta work wit can be rathdur hard here. Ah am very excited by de prospect of doing some trade wit Captain Smidja.”
"Oh!, Captain Smidja! He is a rare character he iss! If he has let you in on any of his "buisiness" den he must like you! He is a viley olt arctic fox ant nuttin he puts his hant to iss ever without luck! He was de reason dat my fadder ant uncle and even in a vay my Grandfadder all made dere fortune aboard de "Starvalker"
"De Starvalker iss a wolfship dat vas built by my grandfadder, men say it iss de finast volfship ever built and dat the dvergr nor de alves could have made any better with der skill or magic.
I tink dat it is more dat de men who have owned her listened to de council of Smidja and had a good measure of luck!"
"You will do vell vit him if he trusts you! He is olt but not dead ant appreciates a beautiful voman as much as de rest of us, so I am sure you have an advantage wit him!" Ari smiled a capricious smile as he playfully teased the older woman, hoping to releive some of the sexual tension that had been building during the conversation.
She wasn’t quite sure how to answer is other question about not having a man and blushed a bit as she tried to explain. “Ah guess Ah never got married because Ah never met da right man dat vwould allow meh ta continue wit meh smitdy and merchant crafting.” She finally said, looking at the dwindling food on her plate. “Ah haf alvways valued meh freedom ant do nah need a man ta tell me vwhat ta do. Ah figure dat someday one vwill come along dat vwill not try ta change meh and dat I might jus zettle down an’ raise a family.” She looked up at him, a bit embarrassed herself.
"I am sure dat der vill be someone for you if you look hard enough, sometimes Freya puts de right vone under your nose ant you dont even realize he is dere! I tink we all have a special person out dere ve are supposed to find dats vy ve gotta look so hart!"
“Actually Ah am afraid Ah am a bit of a vwonton vwoman ant da nah feel terribly guilty aboot keeping da company of many men.”
"Nor should you! It is not our way to be gaurded or...prudish like de Araluens ven it comes to loving or taking pleasure, I have not had many vomen because I tink it will be better for me ven I fint de right vone, but I don't want her to tink I am without skill or interest eider!" He said laughing a bit.
“Ah haft livedt in a man’s vworld meh entire life ant Ah guess Ah just learned ta tink like dem and act a lot like dem. Ah choose vwhen Ah vwant ta be wit someone ant dos dat try ta haft dere vway wit meh, usually endt up wit a goot headtache.” She grinned at him as she popped the last morsel into her mouth.
"Dat iss goot Finn, you should be happy, you deserve to be happy ant I hope you fint a man dat is worthy of someone like you!" Ari said with great warmth and sincerity.
“Dat vwas very goot. Tanks for it. Ah do love da cheese here in Caravway. Dey make some oft da best cheese in da vworldt as far as Ah am concerned.” She thought for a moment, “Altdoh, dere is dat soft cheese in Teutlandt dat dey melt over da crusty bread ant put svweet raspberry jelly on top. Mmmm, dat stuff is very goot. Ah tink dey call it Brie or someting like dat.”
Realizing she wanted to change the subject, Ari switched gears to accomodate her, he respected her but he really enjoyed speaking to a mature woman, they were so different from girls of his own age and that he found stimulating.
"Ya Bree cheese I haff had dis, but I taught it was from de Gauls? Dey must have introduced it to de Tuetlanders for dey eat it differently, instead of de sveet stuff dey roast garlic ant onions till dey spread like a paste den dey put dat on breat and cover it vit de brie ant toast it! Sometimes dey even make it vit a dark brown onion soup and float de whole ting in it like a big raft in a pont! Now dat is delicious ant I tink I just made myself hungry again! Damn!" He started laughing again and poured the rest of the beer down his throat.
“So, Ah hear dat ya are going ta be a knight?” she asked him, looking at him curiously. “Vwhat made ya vwant ta take dat path?”
"Ever since I vas a little boy I knew I vas to be a varrior, but I also knew dere vas someting different about de vay I felt about fighting.
I know about honor ant skill at arms but vat good is it to fight just to get vat you vant? fight for more lant, fight for more golt, or food or vomen? I mean all dese tings are goot ant worthy of fighting for but der must be more! Just because you are strong or skilfull at battle does not mean you are always right! Some Jarls tink de vone who wins de battle is de vone de gods tink is right! I never coult beleive dis! dere are wicked men dat are strong and goot men dat are poor, dere are vomen who are at de mercy of cowards and children vit no fadders to raise dem.
De gods don't choose de vinner, de heart chooses and if de heart of a man is good and honorable it is better for de people he serves or rules. De Araluen's knights beleive in dis dey call it Chivalry.
An olt king of dere's said, "...it is not "might is right" but instead it should be "might for right"
"I have seen dese men in der armor on dere horses I tink I want to be like dem ant fight to protect my people and serve de ones who need help. I have a strong arm ant my head is not too dim so I tink I can fight like dem but....I have no skill fighting from a horse." he sighed and looked down a bit dismayed. "I tink dis vill be de hardest ting I have to learn but I vill do it if it kills me!"
After he told her she remembered something she had wanted to ask him earlier, “Ah saw dem ponies ya are bringing ta da rangers ant dey look like fine lil’ beasties.” She grinned. “Ah have four Shire Drafts dat are of da best quality. Vwon is a stallion and he hadt a goot time wit vwon of meh mares. Ah figure she vwill foal in da spring. Ah am going ta haf ta find anuthder goot draft ta take her place for awhile. Ah vwish Ah couldt get anuthder Shire, but dey are from our homelandt ant off course dere aren’t any over here.” She said sadly. “An it is a shame too for Ah havft da coin ta buy anuthder vwon right now, maybe even for two.”
"I am afraid dat I neet to fint a varhorse too ant I have to say I don't know de first ting about such beasts! I can ride I have ridden since I vas olt enough to stant but de Skandians use a horse to get from one battle to de odder den dey get off and fight, so I don't know how to fight from one. I have even heard of de varriors in de east who rite dere horses ant shoot special bows at de same time so dey are fast and deadly, dis too I vould like to learn!"
“Ah guess Ah am going ta havft ta settle for vwon of dose Araluen brown draft horses for avwhile.” She said a bit gloomily.
After a little while she looked up at the moon rising in the sky over the trees and realized it was getting rather late. “Ah should go back ta meh vwagon in da market sqvuare.” She told Aribjorn, standing up and dusting off her backside. “Ah vwill be back here in da morning, but Ah am going ta stop by da Knarr Harr Marr early on ant take a look at da merchandise Smidja is looking ta sell.” She smiled at Aribjorn and held out her hand.
Aribjorn stood also and gripped her hand firmly.
“Goot job wit dose rangers ant I vwill see ya tomorrow, no?” She asked him.
"Ya Finn you vill, tank you again for all you haff done ant....tank you for talking vit me, I... well tank you."
He wanted to let her know she was special. Not like a lover, though she was certainly fine enough, not like a sister though he felt a kinship with her like he would have with an older sybling, and not like a mother, though he wished his own mother was as strong and noble as this woman seemed to be, he was not sure but hoped that he would be able to call her a freind. He wanted to ask her if she would like him to walk her home, but did not want to insult her. She obviously did not need his protection. He also felt that if he did she might think he was fishing for an invitation to share her bed and that, though it did incite some masculine stirrings in him as he thought about it, was not what his intentions were toward her either. So he bid her goodnight and watched as she left.
Then she made her way back down the trail and toward her gypsy wagon, yawning mightily as she strode out of Aribjorn’s sight.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Nov 5, 2010 12:44:32 GMT -5
Tory was sleeping next to the hearth on the cold stone floor with a large rag from the kitchen as a blanket. She heard whispering and then a louder whisper made by a man. The voice was familiar and comforting. She tried to open one eye to see who it was. The Skandians didn’t like the kitchen slaves to be bothered after hours like this, but that didn’t stop them from coming in and snatching one of the girls and dragging them off to their bed. So far Tory had managed to evade that fate.
She shivered with fear and the room grew darker through her closed eyelids and then she smelled the pungent odor of sweat and rancid rose water and felt the weight of Lady Coltraine’s fat Chatelaine pressing down on her as he had his way with her in the servant’s quarters in Castle Meric. She pushed at him, or tried to, but her arms and legs wouldn’t move any more than her eyelid did.
Korrin forced his tongue into her mouth and she tried to bite it, but was nearly overwhelmed by the awful bitter metallic taste he left as he probed her teeth, holding her jaw with one hand, the other finding its way to her breast and squeezing it until it left a bruise. His weight pressed down on her back, raw from the most recent whipping he had given her just an hour earlier. He moved his hand lower and she screamed and in one mighty effort, tried to heave him off of her. “Get off me pig! I will kill you this time Korrin!” she grunted as she put all of her strength into trying to shove him away.
A searing pain ripped through her side and she screamed again and suddenly opened her eyes.
Korrin was not on top of her and she was not in a Skandian kitchen either. The nightmare still lingered in her mind though as well as the rancid smell of the Chatelaine. It had been so real, she wasn’t sure if she really had been dreaming or not.
She looked up into rafters and then she saw two girls standing next to her. One she recognized, but the other she was sure she had never seen before. “Mylia! You are okay?” She asked and then the events of the day came back just about the same time she realized that her mouth tasted like the floor of a sleazy tavern. “Hey! That Skandian woman drugged me!” She moved to sit up and the pain ripped through her side again. She gasped and lay back, remembering she wasn’t supposed to move. “Oops! I forgot about that. Ari is going to be mad at me, don’t let him throw my covers overboard.”
She looked at the other girl again, trying to place her. “Do I know you?” She asked Ivy and then looked around again, realizing that she was no longer on the Skandian ship inside the makeshift tent. “Where am I?” At nearly the same moment, she remembered hurling the ranger orders from Tandar across the room and screaming at Tandar. “Oh no! Where is Ranger Tandar? Is he mad at me?” She asked Mylia, fear and anxiety all over her face. She started to pull the blankets back again and get up. “I have to talk to him!”
Everything was flooding into her head so fast, she didn’t realize she was barely coherent and she didn’t give Mylia or Ivy a chance to answer as she fired off her barrage of questions. After the initial shock of waking up, all she could think about was that she had defied a ranger and now she was going to be in worse trouble than ever. “They are going to kick me out of the Ranger Corps for that, I know they are.” She moaned. It hadn’t yet occurred to her that she was upset about that when only yesterday she had been contemplating how to get away from them with Chip and her other ranger gear.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Nov 9, 2010 9:53:47 GMT -5
(OOC: Ringulf) *(The following post contains mature content)
The fire burned brightly around him! it scorched his skin and threatened him he stood in the midst of the flames with a great bow in his hands and an arrow knocked on the string. He saw the darkness outside the fire that engulfed him and heard voices calling to him to help them! he was hemmed in on all sides by the flame, he must get to them, they were in danger!
Ringulf woke abruptly his entire body was soaked in a cold sweat. he looked down at his legs, he was sitting on the edge of his bed in a small wooded room, a man slept heavily on the floor a string of buzzing snores coming from his open mouth. Ringulf looked closer at him and shivered as he saw the patch covering his right eye and then seeing the empty socket of his left eye staring hollowly up at him in a most macabre fashion. He looked toward the wall and saw the great bow from his dream standing against the wall with a quiver of mismatched assorted arrows stuffed into it.
His bare feet were cold upon the hardwood floor but he enjoyed the feel of it on his soles. His back was tight and he felt bandages on his back and shoulders and wrapped down his left arm to the middle of his bicep.
The sense of foreboding had not left him. He still felt as though someone had just been screaming his name pleading for him to help. The only face that came to his mind was that of the Skandian woman Finn, his Valkyrie/nursemaid. The terror seeped into the pit of his stomach, that was the voice who cried for his help!
"I must be dreaming still but it all feels so strong and real" he thought.
Slowly he rose to his feet. There was quite a bit of pain in his back and shoulders but he rose and slowly got to the bow and quiver.
He picked them up and slowly, stiffly walked out the semi open door as quietly as he knew how. Things started to fill his mind about moving like this, silently swathed in shadow. passing like the moonlight upon the dewy grass, without even a ripple of breeze to stir it.
Before he knew it, he was outside. He saw no one, but from the sounds around the rustic cabin and down the road, it seemed as if the nights activities were only just over. Voices were trailing off going down toward the waterfront but it was a strong pulling in his heart that set his feet slowly moving on the dirt path that cut through the woods toward the the town.
He followed along the path, his feet and much of his body chilled with the cool evening. As he moved the warmth of his core radiated out and started to comfort him slightly.
He pressed on along the trail though he did not know why, something inside him drove him on, animated him, gave him strength, but his muscles were now starting to quiver and an ache had formed in his back.
As he crested a rise he saw the path was heading down toward another larger road.
It was just then that he heard the sounds of combat ahead of him, down and to the right, along a part of the road he could not see.
"There! that is where I need to be! Come body, you must move a bit farther!" he said and drew a long arrow shaft from the quiver hanging across his back above his hips, and fitted it to his great bow.
He did not remember he could do this but the bow felt very natural in his hand, like an old friend.
Down below him he heard voices, mostly men but then, yes, there was a voice that was smooth and melodic but seemed angry and in the midst of activity as grunts and short screams escaped her.
The crack of a whip snapped and the sounds of weapons clashing permeated the night.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Nov 10, 2010 21:48:34 GMT -5
(OOC: Fin attacked by farmers) *(The following post contains mature content)
Fin was about 15 minutes away from the ranger cabin and on the outskirts of the city where the buildings were slightly run down and interspersed with trees and shrubs. It was obviously a poorer section of town and the few people that were out on the widely spaced streets likely had no homes to go to and eyed her with suspicion. Fin walked with one hand on her bullwhip and one eye on the shadows of the nearly empty streets that skirted the north side of the city. She wished she had thought to strap her sword on when she had left her shop that afternoon. Normally places like this didn’t faze her, but for some reason she was a little edgy tonight.
She was thinking about everything that happened today and marveling at it all. The day had been very packed with meeting several new people that were suddenly becoming very important to her. The most prominent of them being Ringulf and the remarkable kiss he had given her that raised all kinds of feelings within her.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t see the ambush until it was sprung on her. Suddenly there was a burley farmer looming up in her path. She nodded to him and tried to step around but he blocked her with an outstretched arm. “Look what we have here boys! It’s one of those Skandian dog’s Blam!es.” He spat a big wad of tobacco juice onto the ground.
Fin turned her head slightly and saw at least two others behind and to each side of her. She could sense the presence of others. Confident she could handle them, she gave a slight tug to her whip and it pulled free, but she left her hand at her waist hoping they wouldn’t notice it was loose.
“Vwat dah ye gents vwant? I haf no gold on me.” Technically that was true, all her coin was silver and coppers and she had a fair chunk on her, tucked in several locations around her body.
The big man chuckled. “We don’t want your money, you Skandian Blam!. We want your hide.” He sneered.
“And your tail!” cackled one of the men behind her. “What a nice-looking tail it is too.” He stepped up to squeeze her buttock and Fin broke into action, pulling her bull whip and sending it flashing toward the Burley man even as she cold cocked the other man with her elbow. He went down with a ‘whoof’ sound, but another stepped over him and into his place. He was wielding a club which he swung wildly at her. At the same time the whip connected with the Burley man and he let out a yelp, but didn’t check his forward momentum and the other man sprang at her from her other side.
The three of them collided and Fin rolled with them as they all went down in a heap. She ended up on the bottom and struggled to get the large man off of her. He slammed his fist into her left eye a couple of times and Fin let out a yelp of pain, but managed to push him off and roll to her feet.
She saw that one of them now held a long, narrow fillet type knife and she drew her own stocky blade that fit along her forearm perfectly. She used it to block, not wanting to seriously harm these men, but she would defend herself as needed. It seemed this game just got serious.
Fin cracked her whip out, trying to snag the knife out of the man’s hand, but he moved it and the whip wrapped around his wrist instead. She jerked back on the whip and pulled the guy off balance toward her. Twisting out of the way in a maneuver that released the whip coil around his wrist she danced out of his path and he collided with the burly farmer who had been about to conk her on the head with the butt of a hatchet. The handle of the hatchet came down on the head of the knife wielder instead and he howled in pain, clutching his head with one hand.
Fin laughed at them as they momentarily turned on each other, but her mirth was short-lived as she felt a sudden blow to her own head and a sharp pain in the small of her back. The farmer behind her apparently had misjudged her height and hit a good three inches above her kidney, but the other one’s blow to her head brought Fin to her knees. For a moment all she could see was red with swirling white and yellow points of light dancing all around her. She cried out in pain and then, angry for letting them make her cry out, she said, “You will pay for that, vermin.”
She tried to struggle to her feet in spite of the fact she still couldn’t see anything, but didn’t succeed. “Lie down there and take your medicine, Wench!” The words punctuated by a vicious kick on her rump that sent her sprawling into the dirt face first. A weight dropped on her like a sackfull of boulders and she was pinned to the ground. “I got her boys!” The same voice came from right next to her ear and she felt his slimy tongue lap around her earlobe and then plunge into her ear canal.
“Get off me!” She exclaimed and tried to buck him off. By sheer will and brute strength she was able to get up to her hands and knees and would have risen if not for a second sack of boulders dropping on her left side as hands groped various parts of her body. For the first time she was worried that they might actually get the better of her. She wondered if Aribjorn was still within hearing distance. Feigning panic, she struggled against the two men on her back and cried out, “Help! Help me!”
“That’s it, Blam!. Cry for help. Ain’t none of your Skandian pups going to hear you now, but it sure is fun for us when you struggle like this.” The burly farmer who was not one of the ones on her back leered at her and grabbed her chin with one hand, twisting her head so he could plunge his tongue into her mouth.
Suddenly Fin felt an anger she had never felt before. She managed to shift all of her weight plus that of the two men on top of her to her left arm and her back so that her right arm was free. She still held her bullwhip and flicked her wrist now sending the tip up over her head in a maneuver that would have stung her in the derrière. However there were two men in the way and one of them took the full force of the bullwhip to his behind. He yelped, but didn’t budge as Fin had hoped he would.
Fin was about to start panicking for real as she came to the conclusion that she really wasn’t going to get out of this without help. The only thing she could do at the moment was flick her wrist and keep the whip cracking around her. At least that kept the other three at bay for the moment. While the two men on top of her worked together to remove some of her clothing. Fin began screaming for help in earnest when she could; when there wasn’t a tongue in her mouth or a hand clamped on her throat cutting off her air.
“Put her over here,” The burly one who was clearly in charge told the two on her back. They got off her and pulled her to her knees and dragged her to a moderate sized tree and tied her hands around the trunk behind her. Fin fought them, but another blow to her head sent her senses reeling again and she nearly lost conciousness. Now she knew she was in real trouble as they stripped the whip and knife from her hands.
|
|
|
Post by Ringulf on Nov 10, 2010 23:37:27 GMT -5
(OOC: Aribjorn and Fin) *(The following post contains mature content)
Aribjornwanted to ask Fin if she would like him to walk her home, but did not want to insult her. She obviously did not need his protection. He also felt that if he did she might think he was fishing for an invitation to share her bed and that, though it did incite some masculine stirrings in him as he thought about it, was not what his intentions were toward her either. So he bid her goodnight and watched as she left.
She disapeared down the path that led to the northern edge of town and eventually back to the market square where he guessed she had her wagon.
He sat down and tried to decide what to do. On one hand this woman had affected him in a way he did not understand. She was strong and powerful like some of the sheild maiden stories he had heard back home and yet though she was very attractive and well built, she was also quite a bit older than he was. His mind drifted into imaginary scenarios of being with her. He knew it was wrong but it still inticed his dark side. He wondered about that too. for all the goodness he felt inside him and the chivalry he felt he wanted to emulate, her raw femininity excited him and caused him to flush. He knew he would never act upon any of the fantasies that were racing through his head but in his youth and impetuousness he could not resist doing something to keep the strange feelings from ending.
The dark mischeivious side of his teenage nature won out he decided he would follow her and take a short cut to her wagon.
Perhaps he thought if he could watch her secretly it might feed his longing to be with her and let him enjoy a bit more fantasizing at her expense. He felt wicked but he knew it was harmless to feel lustfull toward a woman as it was natural especially for a young Skandian male. As long as he did not act upon it no harm would be done.
So he set out on the path perhaps 10 minutes behind her. He took a side path that he judged might cut around to the west a bit more but if he moved faster may get him to the market square before her. He hoped she would not see him, he would be very embarassed and would not know how to explain his feelings to her.
He moved quickly on the path and was headed toward the market, when he heard sounds of to his left that sounded like fighting, moreover it sounded like a woman fighting! He doubled back toward the sounds trying to stay out of sight and got to a cleared out stretch of the roadway and saw several figures. some were standing around with weapons and cubs some were rolling around on the ground as he got closer and into a spot where he could see the action he realised that two men were accosting a woman on the ground groping at her and pulling the clothes off her body.
She rolled to the left and he saw her right hand flick out with a bullwhip in it and start flicking the whip to harry her attackers.
That had to be Fin!
Ari wanted to jump out and tackle the lot of them to save her but the odds were to great and it would go worse for both of them if he was not succesful in her rescue. So he held his anger and frustration within him and waited to see if he could somehow shift the odds in his favor.
The men finally picked her up off the ground and were helped by the others standing around. There was one big guy who seemed to be telling them what to do and he ordered them to tie her to the tree. They had one man gripping each arm and they tied her arms passing the rope behind the tree, taking her knife and her whip away. The big man took the bullwhip and tied it around the tree also, right at the level of her neck, then stepped back to gawk at her helplessness and her state of undress. The rabble continued to grope at her and pull at her clothing.
Aribjorn was seething in anger and frustration and was just about to jump up and rush them all anyway to keep Finn from being dishonored, when he saw the big man fall forward and slam into the ground. As he looked closer at the prone form, he saw a feathered shaft protruding from the back of his head. A few of the others that were not busy molesting the warrior woman gathered around him to see what had happened and as they realized that it was an arrow that stuck out of the back of his skull another lodged into ones neck, right down to the feathers.
He fell with a gurgle as well.
The other man now seeing two of his mates dead with arrows protruding from them, tried to get the attention of the other three that had started to remove their own breeches to engage their helpless captive. His arrow found its way through his right eye spinning him around and dropping him on top of the other two.
The rape gang was still oblivious to the fate of their comrades as their lust had focussed their entire attention on Fin. two men had each taken a hold of one of her legs at the knee and held them wide apart the other man started to move toward Fin his intention unmistakeable.
That was it Ari snapped!
He leaped to his feet and ran toward the scene with a battle cry that would have woken the dead.
When he got close enough he leaped at Fin's rapist and grabbed him around the neck with one arm and twisted his torso so the man flipped like a rag doll and crashed to the ground as he leveled a kick at the other. The third had picked up his club and raised it to strike Ari, but found it hard to locate his target with the arrow shaft that protruded from both of his own temples.
The man on the ground was not dead but the wrenching of his neck was so brutal he was barly able to move the other had a long knife in one hand and Ari held both his wrists as they fought.
|
|
|
Post by Brandwyn on Nov 11, 2010 16:50:28 GMT -5
(OOC: Fin and Aribjorn and Ringulf) *(The following post contains mature content)
Fin felt more of her clothing being removed and saw the man approaching her with a leer on his face even through the groggy haze of her vision. Her head was exploding in pain unlike any she had ever felt before, but she was shaking from fury that they would treat her this way.
She looked behind the three that were paying attention to her and saw one of the others fall, but she couldn’t make out why. Her vision was very blurry. She saw another one fall and then saw the arrow that had taken him down. She began to struggle against her attackers, her anger and fear adding to her strength.
Another man went down and the two holding her were oblivious to the fate of their friends. Suddenly someone crashed into the man in front of her and one of the men holding her jumped to his aid. As they struggled, Fin jerked on the rope tied around her wrists. They had not done a very good job and finally she was able to get one hand free.
She recognized Aribjorn as she quickly pulled the whip from around her neck and shakily got to her feet. He was locked in combat against the last farmer, but the man seemed to be holding his own against him. He was a big farmer and was slowly overpowering Aribjorn.
Fin didn’t wait, even though her vision was still blurry and her head felt like someone was hammering it against her anvil, she flicked her wrist and the bullwhip snaked out. She leaned forward and it wrapped itself three times around Aribjorn’s opponet’s neck. Fin jerked back hard, thinking to snap the man’s neck.
Unforntuanetly his neck was as thick as his head and all it did was make him stagger backwards, throwing him off balance. Fin stepped back too and kept the pressure on the whip until the man began to choke. Slowly he sunk to his knees, Aribjorn’s hands still locked on his wrists. Then his eyes rolled back in his head and he passed out.
Fin flicked her wrist in the opposite direction and pulled and the whip came free as the farmer sunk to the ground in a huge heap. She figured he was still alive, but that didn’t matter so long as he was out of commission. She pulled the rope off her wrist that they had used to tie her up with and tossed it down on top of the farmer. Her head was swimming so badly, however when she leaned forward to tie him up she nearly fell over.
She flailed widly and caught ahold of a strong, young Skandian arm. Looking up she sobbed slightly, the anxiety of the last few minutes catching up to her now that the danger was past. She stepped toward him and lay her head on his shoulder, her whole body shaking from the rush of adrenaline and the aftermath of the battle and her own anger.
“Tank you Aribjorn. If ye hadn’t come along vwhen ye did, I vwould have been –“ She couldn’t say it even. She shuddered and buried her face in his chest, not wanting him to see her so vulnerable. After a moment she mumbled, “Tank yer friendt too. Vwas dat Ranger Bunt who vwas doing da shooting?” She raised her head and looked around at the carnage. It certainly looked like the work of a ranger.
“Dere vwas so many of dem. I had no idea dey vwere going to get de better of me dat vway.” She shook her head again and wiped her cheeks with her hands, streaking the tears and dirt across her face. “Vwere is da ranger?”
|
|